A neoprene suit is a convenient protective tool that allows a swimmer to be in cold water for several hours without the risk of hypothermia. Let's see what should be given priority when choosing such equipment.
What is neoprene?
Neoprene is a specific microporous rubber, where each cell is filled with tiny air bubbles, due to which, in fact, the heat-insulating qualities of the material are ensured.
Today for the manufacture of wetsuits using neoprene with a thickness of 3 to 9 mm. As a result, the user gets the opportunity to choose the best option depending on the climatic zone and water temperature. The thicker the neoprene suit, the more comfortable the swimmer is in cold water.
Design
Depending on the structure, several variations of neoprene wetsuits are distinguished:
- Monolithic overalls - covers the body, legs, arms, and if there is a hood, the swimmer’s head.
- Neoprene cropped suit - a modification of a mono suit with short sleeves, trouser-legs. Overalls in this category are suitable for immersion in warm waters.
- Suit of a separate plan - consists of several parts - a jacket with a zipper and a jumpsuit with straps.
- Combined model - can be represented as a combination of elements characteristic of all of the above modifications.
Wet suit
This category of products includes a neoprene
suit for spearfishing and diving. Such overalls are called “wet”, since water penetrates under the material through cuffs and zippers, after which it quickly heats up in contact with the body.
It is extremely important not to make a mistake with the size. After all, the heat-insulating properties of such suits directly depend on the tight fit of neoprene to the body.
Dry suit
It is used for diving at low temperatures. Most of the costumes of this plan are completely tight. Thermal insulation is provided by forcing air under a layer of material using a gearbox.
Such overalls are used by experienced divers. To ensure maximum thermal insulation, a “dry” neoprene suit is usually sewn to order. If the product parameters do not correspond to the swimmer’s figure, the risk of water getting under the material layer increases, which can lead to serious troubles when in cold water.
Semi-dry suit
It differs from previous versions by increased sealing of the protective collar, as well as the cuffs in the area of the hands and ankles. This feature significantly slows down the circulation of water inside the product, which contributes to its heating by the body.
Semi-dry wetsuits are positioned as universal. The thickness of the material here is 6.5 mm, which provides a decent level of thermal insulation when using the product in warm and moderately cold waters.
Eventually
When choosing neoprene suits for children and adults, it is important to pay attention not so much to the type of product as to the selection of the appropriate size. Lightning and cuffs that are not tightly attached to the body - all this creates loopholes that allow the cold to penetrate into the overalls.
To choose an effective tool for thermal insulation of the body under water, the easiest way is to navigate through the special tables of manufacturers of wetsuits, which indicate the exact parameters of individual products.
A reliable protective overalls should sit tight on the user, but not crush the body. Owners of a non-standard figure always have the opportunity to touch up a finished suit or make it to order.